Roller screen



LENI SH ROLLER SCREEN June 1928 Filed Nov. 22, 1926 3' Sheets-Sheet l WN a June 5, 1928.

\N H. LENISH ROLLER SCREEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1926 June 5, 1928. 1,672,647

W. H. LENISH ROLLER SCREEN Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES WALTER H. LENISH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROLLER SCREEN.

Application filed November 22, 1926. Serial in. 149,849.

My invention relates to roller screen structure adapted particularly for installation in Window frames. I

Among the important objects of the invention are to provide improved structure in which the screen frictionally locks itself in any positionv to which is has been adjusted; to provide simple detachable lower rail structure for the screen material; and

to provide improved track structure for frictionally receiving and guiding the rail bar.

The various features of my invention are incorporated in the structure shown on the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a window frame showing a screen structure therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on plane 22 of Figure l; i Fig. 3 is a sectional view on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the roller sup porting box;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on plane 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on plane 6-6, -Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on plane 7 -7, Fig. 3, but showing a modified construction.

On Figure 1, F represents a window frame to which I have shown my improved roller screen applied. The screen fabric S is mounted on a roller 1 enclosed within a housing or box structure B. This box may be of any desired shape,but I have shown it of rectangular cross section, constructed of sheet metal.

plane 3-3 of The box body is formed from a single piece of sheet metal with its endsdeflected downwardly to form guide lips 2 and 3 for the outlet opening 4 for the screen material. The closure cap structures 5 and 6 for the box body are deflected outwardly and inwardly along their periphery to form the double flanges or sockets 7 and 8 for receiving the respective ends of the box body, this making a very good joint between the caps and the body and also making the box stiflf and rigid at its ends. To further strengthen the caps, they may have concentric corrugations 9. The roller 1 is of sheet metal bent to tubular form and having its ends 10 and 11 deflected radially inwardly to leave a slit 12 into which the upper edge of the screen fabric may be inserted and secured. The roller tube has the end bushings 13 and 14 of the jambs 19 is inserted through the shaft outside of I the cap, the nut and key holding the shaft in proper axial alignment. Within the tube 1 is the torsion spring 20 which encircles the shaft and has its one end 21 abutting against the tongue or lip 11 of the roller tube, while its other end 22; is secured in the slot 23 extending inwardly from. the adjacent end of the shaft. The spring is thus anchored at one end to the shaft and at its other end to the roller tube. The shaft is normally locked against rotation by the arm 19 extending from the key 19 and engaging at its outer end in the slot 24 cut in'the flange of the end cap 6..

The screen fabric is secured at its upper edge in the slit 12 and is wound around the roller (clockwise direction, Fig. 2) its outer end passing through the outlet 4 and downwardly between the lips 2 and 3 of the box B. Downward null on the screen fabric will rotate the roller tube, such rotation being communicated by the tongue 11 of the roller tube to the .end 21 of the spring, and the spring is therefore wound up and resists such rotation of the roller tube by pulling ofthe fabric. As the spring is wound up, it tends to eontract'axially'but this can readily happen as the springend'21 may slidealong the abutment tongue 11.

The screen containing box may be built into the window frame structure or, as

shown in Fig. 1, the box maybe detachably applied at the upper end of the window frame opening just in front of the plane of movement of the window sash so as not to interfere with'the opening and closin of such sash. To accommodate the cap en s of the box and to permit the screen fabric to extend the full width between the jambs of the window frame, the jambs have the recesses 25 cut therein into which the box ends extend and on the lower wall of which they rest to support the box, flanges, 26 extending downwardly from the caps being secured, as by screws, against the inner faces to thus securely lockthe box in position. Secured to each jamb are front and rear guide strips 27 and 28 forming be tween them channels 29 for receiving the side edges of the fabric and the ends of the rail bar structure R to which the lower end of the screen fabric is secured. The structure and arrangement of the guide strips is clearly shown in Fig. 6. Each guide strip is of L shape and the strips are secured with their base sections 30 against the jamb as by means of screws 31, the limbs of the strips extending 'parallely and having their outer ends 27 and 28 respectively deflected toward each other to leave the narrow entrance slot 32 to the channel 29. The guide strips are so located on the jambs that the channels 29 will be in register with and open into the passageway or mouth 4 of the roller box B. The strips on each jamb are strengthened and seated between inner and outer stop strips or mouldings 33 and 34, detachably secured to the jambs, the outer strips forming the inner stops for the lower window sash. Aswill be explained later, the ends of the rail bar R project into the channels 29 and have frictional engagement with the guide strips, and to make the guide strips more flexible, the outer walls 35 are formed thereon along the outer ends 27 and 28 and a distance inwardly along the limbs 27 and 28 and separated a distance from the limbs. The guide strips are preferably of spring metal and the double wall structure can be readily formed on a single strip of metal by means of proper dies. The stop mouldings 33 and 34 will be applied to engage against the. outer walls 35 of the strips thus leaving the inner walls 27 and 28 free to readily flex during their frictional engagement with the rail bar F. By means of the double wall construction on the guide clips, the edges 32 are round and smooth so as to prevent injury to the screen fabric.

- Describing now the rail bar structure, it comprises the two clamping strips 36 and 37 of sheet metal and having the strengthening and stiffening ribs 38 adjacent to their longitudinal edges. These strips receive between them the lower end of the screen fabric and are secured together by bolts 39 to increase the frictional engagement of the strip with the fabric, and atthe lower edge of the rubber strip is formed the sealing shoe or bead 41 for engaging against the window sill when the screen fabric is pulled down.

At each end of the rail bar structure, plates 42 and 43 are interposed between the strips 36 and 37 and at opposite sides of the screen fabric. At their outer ends, the plates are deflected to form the paralell and opposed friction walls 44 and 45 for engaging against the walls 27 and 28 of the guide strips, the plates being of spring metal. The plates may be longltudinally adjusted so. as to properly position their friction walls in the channels 29. As shown, the plates have the slots 46 through which the bolt 39 extend which clamp the outer .ends of the railbar strips 36 and 37 together. The slots 46 permit longitudinal adjustment of the plates. The bolts 39 may serve also to secure small handles 47 to the'rail bar structure so that the screen may be more readily spring 20 are such that the screen may be readily raised or lowered by means of its handles 47 and will remain in the position to which it has been placed, the spring tension being just sufficient to take up the slack at all times.

The width of the slot 32 leading to the channel 29 is just sufficient to permit the plates 42, 43 to travel easily therein and to prevent passage of insects between the screen fabric and the outer edges of the the guide strips above the rail bar. The guide strips may be of suflicient lateral extension so that the screen fabric will extend at its sides a sufficient distance into the channels 29 to prevent accidental withdrawal of the fabric from the channels during operation and service of the screen. Grooves 49 may be cut in the j ambs in alignment with the channels 29 so as to afford ample clearance space for the rail bar fric- 2 tion walls 44, 45 and for the screen material during transverse shift of the screen, or where there are irregularities in the width of the window frames. Scraping or binding of the rail bar structure and screen will therefore beprevented.

When the screen is drawn all the way down, the shoe 41 along the lower edge of the rubber insert strip 40 will bear against the sill and will seal the window opening against the passage of insects. The width 0 the rail bar structure is also such that when the screen is entirely raised the upper edge or the rail bar will extend into the passageway 4 between the lips 2 and 3 of the roll box, and the upper ribs 38 of the rail bar structure will abut against the lower edges of the lips so that the rail bar structure will form a closure for the passageway 4 to thus seal and protect the screen fabric within the box B. The front lip 3 is preferably inclined, as shown, so as to prevent rubbing of the screen material over a sharp edge as it is wound upon the roller and its diameter increases. The

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. duced diameter.

lower edges of the lips 2 and 3 are also prefdriver may be inserted in the slot 54 and erably turned back, as indicated, to orm the shaft readily turned to adjust the tenwell rounded edges on which the screen fabric will travel.

In order to prevent accidental opening of the screen when it has been brought down against the window sill, lockingmeans are preferably provided. As shown, the guide strips 27 and 28 are deflected inward y to form humps or projections 50 and the friction walls 44 and 45 of the rail bar structure are deflected to form depressions or pockets 51 for' receiving the humps 50 when the screen is entirely down, such spring and friction engagement serving to hold the screen in its lower position but not interfering with raising of the screen when desirable. I

The side edges of the screen fabric are preferably selvedged and strengthened. Such strengthening may be. accomplished by weaving a stranded wire cord 52 into the selvedge edges. This will strengthen the fabric and prevent distortion thereof particularly. along the edges. ening will, however, increase the thickness of the fabric at the, edges, and to allow for this and to insure uniform wind-upfof the fabric on. the rollers, the roller ends are reduced in diameter. As shown, the bushings 13,and 14 are reduced in diameter at their outer projecting ends and thin sheet metal ferrules 53'are applied around the bushings and the ends of the roller tube 1 to form a continuation of said-tube of reened edges of'the fabric will wind up along the reduced end sections and the fabric roll will always be in uniform diameter and the fabric will not stretch unevenly and become distorted. The ferrules 53 may also serve to hold the roller tube in proper shape, such tube being formed partly open by means of dies and then contracted, but the ferrules when slipped over the ends will hold the roller tube to its proper cylindrical shape.

The key 19 which normally holds the shaft 15 against rotation may be readily released to permit rotation of the shaft to adjust the spring tension. The arm 19' of the key normally extends into the slot 24 to lock the key in place, as has already been explained. To release the key, its arm 19" is first swung a distance around the shaft axis to release the arm from the slot 24, and then the arm may be swung in axial direction clear of the slot 24 and the adjacent cap flange 8. When the spring is to be ad-.

justed, the rail bar is first raised its entire distance to engage in the passageway 4, and then the key is released. At the other end of the shaft is a screw-driver slot 54 which normally is surrounded by the nut 18. After release of the key 19, a screw Such 'strength- I The selvedge or strength},

sion of the sprin and then the key is again locked by inserting the end of its arm 19 into the nut 24. The nut which surrounds the slot 54 will securely keep the screwdriver in the slot and will prevent its slipping out of the slot during the adjustment operation of the spring.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified form of guide strips adaptable where plaster jambs are associated with the window opening.

With such an arrangement wooden strips 55 may be embedded in the plaster jambs 56 and separated by a channel 57. The guidestrips used with this arrangement are generally L shaped with their inner walls 58 engaging the opposed faces of the strips 55 and forming a liningv for the channel 57, and their outer limbs 59 extending over the inner side faces of the Wooden strips 55.

At their angles, the strips are deflected to form the diagonal projections 60 which form the slots 61 for receiving-the guide plates 42 and 43 at the respective ends of the rail bar structure. The friction walls 44 and 45 at the ends of the plates engage against the walls 58 of the guide strips. in the channel 57. The ribs or beads 62 along the outer edges of the guide strips increase thecracking of the screen fabric. This provides a simple and efiicient roller screen structure which can be readily installed, operated,and kept in adjustment. On account of the open or separated guide strips and the separated friction walls which permit unhindered lateral extension of the screen fabric, there will be plenty of clearance space to take care of irregular widths of the screen fabric and thickness at the selvedge edges, and irregularity of the width between the jambs of the window frame. The reduced diameter at the ends of the roller tube permits the selvedged and reinforced screen material to become uniformly rolled up on the roller and stretching and distortion ofthe fabric will be prevented. The friction engagement of the friction walls with the guide strips will hold the screen in any adjusted position and the friction projections and pockets will lock the screen in closed dental opening t ereof.

T e roller spring is not depended upon to move the screen to any position, the tension of the spring being suflicient to at all times keep the slack out of the screen and to keep it properly stretched between the rail bar and the roller. When the screen is entirely up, the rail bar engages in the mouth of the box and entirely seals the box so that the rolled-up screen will be fully protected against the weather and the entrance of insects, dirt, etc. v

The outlet slot from the roller box is so located that the screen will be given plenty of clearance. an'd-dra thereon will be prevented particularly w en it is under tension. The guide strips also afiordample clearance so that friction and wear are reduced to a minimum.

lhe separate front and rear guide strip construction permits installation or removal of the strips without removing the roller box from its position.

As there may be more or less lateral shift of the screen during operation thereof, the

latch pockets or notches 51 in the friction walls of the rail bar structure are elongated laterally so that proper latching cooperation with the projections 50 will be at all times assured, when the screen is in closed position.

Havingdescribed my invention, I claim as follows 1. In a roller screen structure, the combination of a roller, screen fabric mounted on said roller, a guide rail structure at the outer end of said fabric, said ide rail comprisin opposed, clamping strips receiving the fa ric between them and terminating short of the outered es of said fabric, spring plates extending Irom each end of saidguide rail and at opposite sides of the projecting fabric, and guide strips forming channels for receivin said spring plates,

said spring plates havin frictional engagement with said guide strlps for securing the fabric in adjusted position.

2. In a roller screen structure, the combination of a roller, screenfabric mounted on said roller, a rail bar structure comprising opposed sheet metal strips detachably secured together and clamping between them the outer end of said fabric, guide plates at the ends of said rail bar structure and clamped between the ends of said sheet metal strips on oppositesides of said fabric, the outer ends of said plates being separated from each other and from said fabric, and guide strips forming guide channels for receiving the ends of the guide plate, the frictional engagement of said guide plates with said guide strips locking said screen in adjusted position.

3. In a roller screen structure, the combination of a roller, screen fabric mounted on said roller, a guide rail structure at the outer end of said fabric, said guide rail comprising opposed clamping strips receiving the fabric between them, spring plates extending from each endof said guide rail at opposite sides of said fabric, guide strips forming channels for receiving said spring plates, said spring plates having frictional engagement with said ide strips for securing the fabric in ad usted position, and means for adjusting said plates longitudinally relative to said guide rail.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of November, 1926.

WALTERH. LENISH. 

